Artists launch attack on Creative Scotland

A HUNDRED of Scotland’s leading artists – including Rebus author Ian Rankin – have launched an outspoken attack against the government agency in charge of the cultural sector.

In a highly critical letter to Creative Scotland, they accuse the arts organisation of “ill-conceived decision-making and a lack of empathy and regard for Scottish culture”.

The letter addressed to its chairman, Sir Sandy Crombie, will increase the pressure on chief executive Andrew Dixon to quit following months of criticism over his stewardship. Neither was available for comment.

Others who signed the letter include composers James Macmillan and Sir Peter Maxwell Davies, playwright and artist John Byrne, filmmaker Andrew Gibb, actor Tam Dean Burn, singer-songwriter Karine Polwart and Scotland’s national poet, Liz Lochhead. Creative Scotland has an annual budget of more than £83 million,